PDKINEMATICS, a Lithuanian defence technology startup founded by former private equity manager Rapolas Markevičius, is adapting precision-guidance technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company emerged in late 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, aiming to strengthen European security by addressing the limitations of traditional NATO air support near contested contact lines.
The startup’s flagship system, Gannet, allows drones to drop precision-guided munitions from altitudes up to 700 metres (about 2,300 feet), which the company states is up to six times higher than unguided alternatives. This capability reduces the drones' exposure to ground-based threats without sacrificing accuracy. Gannet is designed to function in GPS-denied environments and severe electronic warfare, and is currently deployed in Ukraine alongside other European countries.
Presently, Ukrainian forces reportedly drop approximately 300,000 drone munitions monthly, almost all unguided. PDKINEMATICS joins other regional companies, such as M-FLY and The Fourth Law, in shifting precision capabilities from large, expensive military platforms to smaller, scalable hardware. The company maintains rapid development cycles by closely collaborating with Ukrainian military end users, integrating direct battlefield feedback within weeks to adapt to the evolving demands of autonomous warfare.